Comments on: It is the Consumer’s Choice http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/02/04/it-is-the-consumers-choice/ Reduce the number of catalogs you receive in the mail and go paperless. Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:31:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Elizabeth http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/02/04/it-is-the-consumers-choice/#comment-9332 Elizabeth Sun, 16 Nov 2008 04:42:49 +0000 http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/02/04/it-is-the-consumers-choice/#comment-9332 I've been a customer service rep for 5-6 years & my company does not participate in catalog choice, but I wish they would! I am tired of getting yelled at by people who don't want our catalog & try to remove it here, but can't. When we send them to the DMA the #1 reason people don't want to do it is because they require a credit card. Sorry Maria- if you work in the catalog industry then you have to think about the CUSTOMER. Maybe having a credit card makes it a more valid or reliable thing for YOU the company, but it makes it seem more sketchy and wierd to the CUSTOMER and really, aren't they the ones that count? Plus, I can never figure out how its cost efficient for me to be answering calls to remove catalogs while people waiting to make orders are holding for a rep. I’ve been a customer service rep for 5-6 years & my company does not participate in catalog choice, but I wish they would! I am tired of getting yelled at by people who don’t want our catalog & try to remove it here, but can’t. When we send them to the DMA the #1 reason people don’t want to do it is because they require a credit card. Sorry Maria- if you work in the catalog industry then you have to think about the CUSTOMER. Maybe having a credit card makes it a more valid or reliable thing for YOU the company, but it makes it seem more sketchy and wierd to the CUSTOMER and really, aren’t they the ones that count? Plus, I can never figure out how its cost efficient for me to be answering calls to remove catalogs while people waiting to make orders are holding for a rep.

]]> By: Laura http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/02/04/it-is-the-consumers-choice/#comment-1509 Laura Tue, 11 Mar 2008 13:32:23 +0000 http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/02/04/it-is-the-consumers-choice/#comment-1509 Dear Catalog Guy: I'm not sure why you think that Catalog Choice is hostile to the catalog industry and wants to "shut it down." Nothing could be further from the truth. Our mission is to reduce UNWANTED catalog mailings - not ALL catalogs, many of which are valued resources to consumers. We believe that this can be a win-win-win for the consumer, for the merchant who doesn't have to spend additional financial resources to produce and mail a catalog to someone who does not want it, and - of course - for the environment. We've publicly acknowledged that there are many things we like about catalogs. Perhaps you missed the February 10th blog post, "What we like about catalogs." Check it out by clicking on "February 2008" on the right nav bar. As for your tree planting program - that's cool. Let us know which catalog you work for, and we'll check them out. If you're really doing such great things for the environment, we'd like to highlight your company. Dear Catalog Guy:
I’m not sure why you think that Catalog Choice is hostile to the catalog industry and wants to “shut it down.” Nothing could be further from the truth. Our mission is to reduce UNWANTED catalog mailings - not ALL catalogs, many of which are valued resources to consumers. We believe that this can be a win-win-win for the consumer, for the merchant who doesn’t have to spend additional financial resources to produce and mail a catalog to someone who does not want it, and - of course - for the environment.

We’ve publicly acknowledged that there are many things we like about catalogs. Perhaps you missed the February 10th blog post, “What we like about catalogs.” Check it out by clicking on “February 2008″ on the right nav bar.

As for your tree planting program - that’s cool. Let us know which catalog you work for, and we’ll check them out. If you’re really doing such great things for the environment, we’d like to highlight your company.

]]> By: Daniel http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/02/04/it-is-the-consumers-choice/#comment-1497 Daniel Tue, 11 Mar 2008 03:54:50 +0000 http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/02/04/it-is-the-consumers-choice/#comment-1497 Dear Catalog Guy and Maria, We do not believe that a consumer should have to turn over a credit card number to stop getting unwanted catalogs. Using a verifiable email address is plenty of verification --after all, that's what the Do Not Call registry uses and something like 45 million people have signed up for that service. Maria, we are glad that the DMA service worked for you within two months, especially since most catalog companies work on longer lead times. I wonder how it worked so well for you so quickly? But, as long as you are a satisfied customer, we are glad for you. Dear Catalog Guy and Maria,

We do not believe that a consumer should have to turn over a credit card number to stop getting unwanted catalogs. Using a verifiable email address is plenty of verification –after all, that’s what the Do Not Call registry uses and something like 45 million people have signed up for that service. Maria, we are glad that the DMA service worked for you within two months, especially since most catalog companies work on longer lead times. I wonder how it worked so well for you so quickly? But, as long as you are a satisfied customer, we are glad for you.

]]> By: Maria L. http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/02/04/it-is-the-consumers-choice/#comment-1496 Maria L. Tue, 11 Mar 2008 03:30:13 +0000 http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/02/04/it-is-the-consumers-choice/#comment-1496 The only reason DMA tries to charge $1 for the filling out of the form is to attempt to prevent fraudulent entries. You do not HAVE to pay them, simply explain that when you write them by snail mail and they will comply. Or better yet, you could always ASK the DMA why they were charging for it, they would gladly tell you. They complied for me when I requested removal without paying and it has helped wonders. I do not get anymore catalogs within 2 months after doing it they virtually all stopped. It was great. The only reason DMA tries to charge $1 for the filling out of the form is to attempt to prevent fraudulent entries. You do not HAVE to pay them, simply explain that when you write them by snail mail and they will comply. Or better yet, you could always ASK the DMA why they were charging for it, they would gladly tell you. They complied for me when I requested removal without paying and it has helped wonders. I do not get anymore catalogs within 2 months after doing it they virtually all stopped. It was great.

]]> By: Catalog Guy http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/02/04/it-is-the-consumers-choice/#comment-1494 Catalog Guy Tue, 11 Mar 2008 01:48:16 +0000 http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/02/04/it-is-the-consumers-choice/#comment-1494 Hey everyone, Just FYI. I work in the catalog industry and no one is using all the names they are collecting on their site. They are hostile to our industry and want to close it down and we are not going to help them. We provide a legitimate service that people want. We plant millions more trees than we use and he actually save more energy and create less pollution than people driving all over town to retail stores. Please get real! And finally, we won't use Catalog Choices names BECAUSE they are not verified by a credit card, unlike DMA, which we do! Hey everyone,

Just FYI. I work in the catalog industry and no one is using all the names they are collecting on their site. They are hostile to our industry and want to close it down and we are not going to help them. We provide a legitimate service that people want. We plant millions more trees than we use and he actually save more energy and create less pollution than people driving all over town to retail stores. Please get real!

And finally, we won’t use Catalog Choices names BECAUSE they are not verified by a credit card, unlike DMA, which we do!

]]> By: justin http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/02/04/it-is-the-consumers-choice/#comment-1224 justin Thu, 21 Feb 2008 19:41:19 +0000 http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/02/04/it-is-the-consumers-choice/#comment-1224 why is this website requiring my email address? i hear, every day, on the news, fraud this and fraud that. don't give out personal information. why would i give DMA my credit card info. no, absolutely not. why is this website requiring my email address?

i hear, every day, on the news, fraud this and fraud that. don’t give out personal information. why would i give DMA my credit card info. no, absolutely not.

]]> By: Dave http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/02/04/it-is-the-consumers-choice/#comment-1205 Dave Wed, 20 Feb 2008 21:40:04 +0000 http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/02/04/it-is-the-consumers-choice/#comment-1205 I think its time to begin lobbying at the heart of all junk mail...the bulk mailing discounts given by the post office. I have to believe that the delivery costs (fuel and labor) are swamping any possible efficiencies of scale reasonable for bulk mailing. I think its time to begin lobbying at the heart of all junk mail…the bulk mailing discounts given by the post office. I have to believe that the delivery costs (fuel and labor) are swamping any possible efficiencies of scale reasonable for bulk mailing.

]]> By: Josh http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/02/04/it-is-the-consumers-choice/#comment-992 Josh Mon, 11 Feb 2008 03:00:44 +0000 http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/02/04/it-is-the-consumers-choice/#comment-992 DMA better wake up and smell the grassroots - there is no way I will ever provide a credit card number to get removed from a catalog mailing. If DMA feels unjustly attacked, its probably because they never provided a viable alternative in the first place and therefore have been essentially unregulated - thus the attractiveness and exponentially growing membership in CC's service. The possibility of somebody opting out of a catalog without my permission versus someone potentially stealing my identity and draining my bank account because I provided a credit card? Not even close between the two choices. Catalog Choice, thank you for providing one of the best ideas for the environment in a long time. And no, I am not an employee, just someone who has opted out of 60+ catalogs since I joined and couldn't be happier. DMA better wake up and smell the grassroots - there is no way I will ever provide a credit card number to get removed from a catalog mailing. If DMA feels unjustly attacked, its probably because they never provided a viable alternative in the first place and therefore have been essentially unregulated - thus the attractiveness and exponentially growing membership in CC’s service. The possibility of somebody opting out of a catalog without my permission versus someone potentially stealing my identity and draining my bank account because I provided a credit card? Not even close between the two choices. Catalog Choice, thank you for providing one of the best ideas for the environment in a long time. And no, I am not an employee, just someone who has opted out of 60+ catalogs since I joined and couldn’t be happier.

]]> By: Mary http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/02/04/it-is-the-consumers-choice/#comment-952 Mary Sat, 09 Feb 2008 15:26:15 +0000 http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/02/04/it-is-the-consumers-choice/#comment-952 Just a comment about DMA's "free" opt-out option. Actually, they ask us to pay with either method -- a dollar or a credit card number. My credit card number is not something I give out for free. They didn't need my credit card number when they added my name to their mailing lists; they don't need it to take my name off. Quite a scam they run -- they do something really annoying, then ask for payment to stop. Just a comment about DMA’s “free” opt-out option. Actually, they ask us to pay with either method — a dollar or a credit card number. My credit card number is not something I give out for free. They didn’t need my credit card number when they added my name to their mailing lists; they don’t need it to take my name off. Quite a scam they run — they do something really annoying, then ask for payment to stop.

]]> By: Catalog Choice - Paperless Blog » Blog Archive » Dollars and Sense of Catalog Choice http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/02/04/it-is-the-consumers-choice/#comment-925 Catalog Choice - Paperless Blog » Blog Archive » Dollars and Sense of Catalog Choice Fri, 08 Feb 2008 01:13:05 +0000 http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/02/04/it-is-the-consumers-choice/#comment-925 [...] We know the DMA has a website where you can opt-out of DMA member mailings.  But based on our last post, it is clear that it is not acceptable for consumers to give the DMA their credit card just to [...] [...] We know the DMA has a website where you can opt-out of DMA member mailings.  But based on our last post, it is clear that it is not acceptable for consumers to give the DMA their credit card just to [...]

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